LIBERAL DEMOCRAT Jenny Willott has been installed as odds-on favourite to win Cardiff Central from Labour at the next general election.

Bookmakers Jack Brown has announced odds for the constituency following the reselection of sitting MP Jon Owen Jones as Labour candidate.

Ms Willott is 8/13, Mr Jones is 6/5, the Conservative candidate is at 33/1 and Plaid Cymru 250/1.

In 2001, Ms Willott achieved an 11.8% swing to cut Mr Jones's majority to just 659. At the next election she needs a swing of just under 1% to take the seat.

In May, the constituency's Liberal Democrat AM, Jenny Randerson, more than doubled her majority to 7,156.

Karl Williams of Jack Brown said, "We think Jenny Willott is unstoppable and that Jon Owen Jones will be looking for a new job after the next general election.

"She had a very high swing last time and only needs a tiny movement to take the seat."

Ms Willott, 29, who is a manager with the Victim Support organisation, said, "I'm very pleased to be the favourite, though I don't believe in counting my chickens. I shall continue to campaign hard in Cardiff Central from now until election day."

Mr Jones said, "Jenny Willott was odds-on favourite to win last time, but she didn't. I bet on myself in 2001 and took money off the bookies.

"The odds were as short as they were on her because of a few heavy individual bets.

"I'm quite happy to have her on short odds," he said.

Recently Mr Jones has made a number of controversial statements, especially about the running of the NHS in Wales by the Assembly Government.

He has contrasted the long waiting lists in Wales with shorter ones in the north-east of England, which has a similar demographic make-up.

Mr Jones has argued that other parts of Britain have had more NHS capital projects because of doubts in the National Assembly about the Private Finance Initiative.

The constituency has one of the highest concentrations of students in the UK and the Liberal Democrats have campaigned against student tuition fees.